WISCONSIN RAPIDS - A kitten in Wisconsin Rapids has tested positive for rabies, and officials are asking people to reach out to them if they came into contact with the animal.

The kitten was found Sept. 1 in the 2400 block of Ranger Road, according to a news release from the Wood County Health Department.

The family that adopted the kitten on Sept. 3 lives in the 3000 block of Pioneer Drive in Wisconsin Rapids, according to the news release.

Rabies is a viral infection that affects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal for people and animals, so anyone who had direct contact with the kitten needs to start treatment immediately, according to the release from the Wood County Health Department.

Anyone with information regarding the mother of the kitten and its litter seen in this area around Sept. 1 is asked to call the Wood County Health Department at 715-421-8911.

“It is important for people to know that just being in the same building with a rabid animal does not constitute an exposure if you can rule out any physical contact with the animal,” James Kazmierczak, an epidemiologist with the state Division of Public Health said in the release.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wild animals account for more than 90 percent of reported rabies cases, and bats, raccoons, foxes and skunks remain the most common sources of rabies in the U.S. Some signs of rabies include dizziness, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite or malaise and muscle weakness according to Mayo Clinic website.

The release stated that public officials suggest vaccinating pets, avoiding contact with wild animals and avoiding keeping exotic pets are among the ways to minimize the spread of rabies.

For more on rabies, visit www.cdc.gov/rabies or call the Wood County Health Department at 715-421-8911.